Mazda RX8 To track day or not to track day.

Mazda RX8 To track day or not to track day.

Author
Discussion

groomi

9,317 posts

243 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
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Frimley111R said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=155...

And didn't a PH staff member track one/have one??

Also, was just looking at cheap RX8s for track work and although there are loads, non have any engine tests done so how do you guess whether the engine is good or not? Or for a grand do you just risk it?



Edited by Frimley111R on Tuesday 6th December 15:42
A rebuild is a couple of grand or nearer a grand if you take the engine out and put it back yourself. Alternatively, fork out for a compression test before you buy - no idea how much they cost, but can't be much. Still a cheap car.

Furyblade_Lee

4,107 posts

224 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
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Think a compression test is under £100. I think 8 is new / rebuilt, 5 means you may have starting problems but it should still run. Ring L C Rotary, they do the one I drive

groomi

9,317 posts

243 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
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LC Rotary are a top bunch. They rebuilt mine before I bought it and have looked after it since - they certainly know their stuff.

ally_f

245 posts

187 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
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I've had an RX8 track / weekend car for a year and a bit - I picked up for £1400 with the low oil level light on (!) and the only mods are a HKS exhaust, Racing Beat lowering springs and a decent set of tyres. It's great fun, way faster than the previous MX5 I had (though far more comfortable and stable), great balance, great brakes, has stability control for when beginners have a go - oh and pops huge flames out of the exhaust when you give it some stick :-)

For the money you really can't find anything else with the same balance of performance and handling. And it even has heated electric seats and a nice stereo for the drive home.

The insurance is relatively cheap, the oil consumption isn't that high (even considering it's designed to burn it) - perhaps the equivalent of 30p per tank of fuel - and fuel economy of 15-20mpg is a non-issue if you're not using it every day.

I change the oil every 2 track days and I had the newer spec/faster starter motor fitted by Hurley Rotary in Coventry as a precaution (makes it much harder to flood in cold weather). It needed a solenoid for some intake valve that reduces emissions when the engine's cold (all of about £25 off eBay) and I flooded it once and it was a bugger to get it re-started - but in fairness it was -2 outside with snow on the ground and I moved it 10 yards before stopping it, so I deserved that!

I really don't understand the bad rep. these cars get, mine's hardly a pristine example and it's been great... and as others say, should it blow up, a fully warranted rebuilt engine can be had for around £2k.

Oh, and it's a 1.3 - the 2.6 litre 'official capacity thing was just to move it up into a more representative tax bracket given the emissions.


Bright Halo

2,966 posts

235 months

Monday 19th December 2016
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There is an absolutely cracking track prepped Peripheral ported (unique?) RX8 just gone up for sale on the RX8 owners club.
Engine built by Carl Hayward who is probably the best out there!

Edit:- No longer for sale

Edited by Bright Halo on Saturday 13th May 07:35

GC8

19,910 posts

190 months

Saturday 7th January 2017
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Isnt Pip Gardner the best?

Boomin33

15 posts

193 months

Thursday 11th May 2017
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Good (smaller) tracks in South East UK for an Rx8? I went scanning through the track day posts for this info and funny enough found a post for Rx8s.

I just bought a cheap but very fresh engined Rx8 to tool around on tracks. It is SORN so would be trailer'ing it to days.

What are some good smaller Tracks closest to Maidenhead Berkshire?

many Thanks for advice

Bright Halo

2,966 posts

235 months

Saturday 13th May 2017
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Get yourself over to RX8 Owners Club UK.
Excellent forum with loads of helpful members.
There is plenty of advice on there for tracking your RX8 and there even members who race competively in various series.

http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/the-forum.html

Jbliss

1,145 posts

157 months

Saturday 13th May 2017
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Pretty much every trackday I've been to has been red flagged at some point due to an RX8. Read into that what you want!